Travel

Which U.S. Airlines Offer the Most and Least Legroom for 2024?

Embarking on a journey through the skies is an exciting adventure, but for many travelers, the quest for comfort is an essential aspect of the flying experience. Legroom, the often-overlooked metric that can make or break your in-flight comfort, varies significantly among U.S. airlines.

In a recent study conducted by Upgraded Points, we explored the economy seat pitch across the 10 busiest domestic flight routes, shedding light on the legroom provided by major carriers.

Most Legroom Airlines

Leading the pack with the most generous legroom is JetBlue Airways, offering an average of 32.3 inches of space. This extra room can make a significant difference on longer flights, providing passengers with a more comfortable journey.

Close behind is Southwest Airlines, where passengers enjoy 31.8 inches of legroom. Known for its customer-friendly policies and open seating, Southwest’s ample legroom adds to its appeal.

Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines both provide an average of 31.0 inches of legroom. These airlines offer a balance of comfort and service, making them popular choices for domestic travel.

Least Legroom Airlines

At the other end of the spectrum, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines offer the least legroom, with an average of just 28.0 inches. These ultra-low-cost carriers often sacrifice space to maximize the number of seats, which can lead to a less comfortable experience, especially on longer flights.

Hawaiian Airlines provides slightly more room, with an average of 29.0 inches of legroom. While not as spacious as some other carriers, it still offers a bit more comfort compared to Spirit and Frontier.

United Airlines and American Airlines offer moderate legroom, with 30.1 inches and 30.2 inches respectively. While not the most spacious, they provide a middle ground between the ultra-low-cost carriers and the airlines with the most generous legroom.

Airlines

This European airline plans to scrap free food from its flights

Air France is set to trial the removal of free in-flight meals on two of its short-haul routes from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Lisbon and Helsinki, starting January 2025.

This shift toward a buy-on-board model follows a growing trend among European airlines, as carriers look to cut operational costs and explore alternative revenue streams. Under this trial, Air France economy passengers will still be offered a complimentary beverage and a small snack, but more substantial food options will be available for purchase onboard.

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Business class passengers, however, will not be affected by this change and will continue to enjoy a complimentary meal service, complete with a range of hot and cold drinks as well as alcoholic beverages.

The move mirrors similar strategies adopted by other European airlines, such as British Airways and Lufthansa, which have both transitioned to buy-on-board catering in recent years. Air France’s parent company, the Air France-KLM Group, hopes that this trial will help determine the feasibility of the buy-on-board model for short and medium-haul flights, potentially leading to further rollouts in the future.

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Traditionally, Air France has offered an edge over budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet by providing a free drink and snack or sandwich on most of its economy flights. However, the ongoing shift toward paid meal options reflects a broader industry trend.

Many airlines have gradually reduced their complimentary catering services in a bid to lower costs and, theoretically, pass those savings on to passengers through lower ticket prices.

Ryanair was one of the first airlines to eliminate free in-flight meals on short-haul routes, justifying the change as a way to remove “unnecessary frills” and provide more affordable fares. British Airways followed suit in 2017, scrapping free meals on short-haul flights and introducing a buy-on-board catering system.